Change dispensing mechanism



1954 J. F. EIERMAN CHANGE DISPENSING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1947 mm wm Mm bw @q and INVENTOR. '1/ 75. w/ynazp,

f I It vlm 1954 J. F. EIERMAN CHANGE DISPENSING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1947 M INVENTOR. 760. za/ynan/ Jan. 5, 1954 J. F. EIERMAN 2,664,984

CHANGE DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 20, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Jan. 5, 1954 J HERMAN 2,664,984

CHANGE DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 20, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 23 5756 55 FE- 32g@ Q"??? Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHANGE DISPENSING MECHANISM Jack F. Eierman, Wauwatosa, Wis. Application August 20, 1947, Serial No. 769,620

4 Claims.

My invention relates to automatic change mechanism for coin operated vending machines and the like.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and durable automatic change mechanism relatively free of service problems.

A further object is to provide change mechanism which is positive acting throughout its entire operating cycle.

This and ot er inherent objects are disclosed in the preferred embodiment of my invention, as described in the annexed specifications and drawings, in which:

Fig, l is a schematic diagram il ustrating the electrical circuit of the illustrated embodiment of my invention, schematically depictin some of the mechani al structure;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the coin receiving tubes of the changer showing some of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2 with some of the parts shown in cross sectional view for clarity;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view illustrating the right side of the structure shown in Fig. 3, with some of the parts shown in cross-sectional view for clarity;

Fig. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional View of the line 55 of Fig. i;

Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective view of a lost motion switch actuator used to control the slide return part of the operating cycle of the machine;

Fig. '7 is a schematic exploded view of portions of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5 showing the mechanism ready for the commencement of an operating cycle;

Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. '7 but shows the mechanism ejecting one nickel;

Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 7 but shows the mechanism ejecting two niclzels and one dime; and

Fig. 10 is a line diagram of the electrical circuit shown in Fig. l.

The selected embodiment of my invention includes a plurality of change tubes H3, H, and ii, the change tube it for example being provided for quarters, ii for dimes, and i2 for nickels. 'I'hese change tubes are preferably of metal and are open at each end. The lower end of each of the tubes is mounted in a hole It in a horizontal plate E5 of the frame of the machine in any desired manner such as by welded joints [6 (Fig. 5).

Adjacent and below that portion of the plate [5 which supports the change tubes, there are mounted two coin slides H and i8 (Figs. 5, '7, 8

and 9). Beneath the coin ejecting slides l7 and N3 the frame it is provided with a stationary bottom plate it, the sides of which or race the sides of the slides ii and i8 and the plate so as to form a slot permitting the reciprocation of slides I l and 18.

The lower coin ejecting slide is provided with a coin receiving hole 23 and the upper coin ejecting slide it is provided with coin receiving holes 21 and 22. When the machine is ready to com- Jnence a cycle of operation the holes 229 and 22 are in alignment with the bore of the change tube l2 and the hole 22 is in alignment with the bore of the change tube l I. The coin ejecting slide ii is offset as at 23. The left hand part of slide i8 overlies the coin ejecting slide 27, and, beyond the offset 23, the right hand side or" the slide I8 is in axial alignment with the coin ejecting slide ll. A stationary spacer 2 3 is provided between the right hand portion of the slide it and the lower surface of the plate l5 so as to maintain proper alignment of the slide it.

Slide l1 and the lefthand portion of slide it, both of which are located beneath the change tube 52, have a thickness each equal to the thickness of a nickel, and the right hand portion of slide it beneath the change tube H has a thickness equal to the thickness of a dime. Two coin discharging openings 25 and 26 are provided in the stationary bottom plate l 9, the opening 25 being provided for the discharge of nickels and the opening 26 being provided for the discharge of dimes.

If the coin tubes II and i2 are provided with dimes and nickels respectively one dime will nest in the opening 22 in slide I8 and one nickel will rest in each of the openings 23 and El in the slides I! and I8 respectively. If the slide ll then be moved to the left and the slide is be maintained stationary, then the nickel carried by slide 20 will be moved to the left until it registers with opening 25 (Fig. 8). The nickel will then be discharged through the coin discharge opening When the slide ii is returned to its initial oper ating position (Figs. 5 and 7) the opening 2 3 will again be aligned with the opening El and the bore of the tube i2, permitting the nickel resting in opening 2! to drop down to the opening 2c and permitting the opening 2! to be refilled from the coin tube [2.

If the slide is be moved to the left, the offset portion 23 will contact the right end of the slide H and slides l? and it will thereby be moved to the left as a unit until the opening registers with the coin discharg openin a t 9351- 3 ings 2t and 2! register with the coin discharge opening 25 (Fig. 9). In this position of the machine the dime carried by opening 22 will be discharged through the discharge opening 26 and the two nickels carried by openings 26 and 2i will be discharged through the coin discharge opening 25, thereby furnishing 20 cents change.

If the slide it be now returned to the right, the right hand portion of the slide will abut the offset 23 in the slide it? and will carry both slides back to their normal position (Fig. '7

The foregoing structure illustrates the general environment of the applicants invention. The invention, which is described hereinafter, relates to the new and improved mechanism for causing the coin changing machin to go through the foregoing operating cycle.

The Slides ii and it are moved to and fro by a plurality o1- solenoids El, 28 and 29, provided with cores, 3d, and 32 respectively. The core 3i; is secured in any desired fashion to the slide it to move the slide it to the left and the core 32 to the slide i? to move the slide H to the right.

The electric circuit for operating the machine (Fig. 1) includes a pair of limit switches 33 and 3d arranged respectively near the bottoms of the change tubes ii and i2. These limit switches 33 and are provided with operating fingers 35 and. 38 respectively. As soon as the coin tubes H and it are provided with suificient coins to enable the machine to make change, the coins will contact the operating fingers 35 and 35 thereby closing switches 33 and 3 to condition the machine for operation.

Since co n changing devices such as that disclosed herein are ordinarily used in vending machines, a limit switch 3? is provided which closes when the vending machine is provided with merchandise to be vended but which opens when the vending machine is empty.

The electric power for the machine is supplied through power terminals 3 3 and 39. Output terminals ill and ll are provided to furnish the operating current to conventional dispensing mechanism in any desired dispensing machine.

Assuming that a nickel is placed in a coin slot leading to chang tube l2 and that the dispense ing machine is not empty so that limit switch 3? is closed, the coin is accepted or rejected by proven slug ejection means such as :32 (Fig. .4). If the coin passes conventional slug reiecters, it closes the contacts of switch 33 operated by an operating trip t le located in the path or the travel of the coin. Parenthetically, a similar operating trip is mounted above each of the tubes 12, ii and it as elements Mm), i -4(1)), and -'l l(c) respectively. A gate him) is arranged in any desired fashion beyond trip G na) so that when the coin strikes the gate it tends to rotate it in a clockwise direction (Fig. i). The gate 450%) is normally prevented from rotating in a counterclockwise direction by a mechanical inter-loci; stow, which is connected to the core ii of a solenoid When the contacts of switch .58 are closed, by the passage of a coin, a circuit is closed comprising power terminal 39, switch 3?, switch it, solenoid t and power terminal This energizes the solenoid ii} thereby withdrawing the mechanical interlock 46m) from opera.- tive engagement with the gate 35%) t fi e y permitting the coin to drop down chute com) (Fig. 4). If, however, switch points 3? are opened because the vending machine is empty, then the mechanical interlock will not be withdrawn and 4 the coin will be discharged through path 56((1) to a coin return slot.

Assuming that the coin has traveled down chute ime), it will contact operating finger 5| (a), thereby closing switch 52 mechanically operated by finger cm). This makes a circuit comprising the power erminal 38, the switch 52, output terminal d 5, output terminal 33 and power terminal 39 thereby initiating the operation of the vending machine connected to output terrninals do and ii. It will be observed that for the nickel operating cycle no change is ejected, it being assumed for the purposes of illustration that the value of the article being vended by the Vending machine is five cents whereby a purchaser will be entitled to no change.

Assuming that a dime is placed in a coin slot leading to change tube ii, that the dispensing machine is not empty So that limit switch 37 is closed, that there are suflicient nickels in coin tube IE to close limit switch the coin is accepted or rejected by proven slug rejection means. If the coin passes the conventional slug rejccters, it contacts an operating trip 45(2)) located in the path of the travel of the coin in the same manner as trip 3cm) in the nickel change tube. The operating trip 65(2)) closes th contacts of a switch 53. The closing of the contacts of the switch 53 closes a circuit comprising power terminal 3%, switch 3?, switch 3%, switch 53, solenoid ii; and power terminal 38 thereby energizing the solenoid st to withdrawn the mechanical interlock 36(19) from operative en agement with the gate 25(1)) in the same fashion as in the case of the nickel slot. This permits the coin to drop down Chute 49(5). If, however, switch points 3? are open because the vending machine is empty, or if limit switch .3 3 is open because there are no nickels in the nickel tube, then the mechanical interlock will not be withdrawn and the coin will be discharged through path 523(2)) to a coin return slot.

Assuming that the coin traveled down chute 49(1)) it will contact operating finger 55 (b) thereby closing a switch 5d mechanically operated by finger 5ND). This will close .2 Circuit comprising power terminal 33, solenoid 2%, switch outp t. t rm nal o t ut t rminal an power terminal thereby simultaneously initiating operation or the vending machine and energizing the solenoid 25. The energization of the solenoid 23 moves the core (ii to the left (Fig. 5) thereby moving coin slide it to the left. Moving coin slide ll to the left moves the nickel carried in opening 2% over to the coin discharge opening 25 (Fig. 8) thereby giving the purchaser five cents change. Thus, a purchaser receives a five cent article and five cents in chan e for his dime.

Means are also provided for returning the operating parts of the machine to their initial position for the commencement of a new cycle. A trigger 55 (Figs. 3 and 6) is mechanically connected to the core 3! so that movement of the core 3! to the left carries trigger 55 to the left. The trigger 55 extends downwardly into a slot 555 in a slide El. The slide 5i is mounted for to and fro movement in a frame 53 secured to the framework of the machine. As the trigger 55 moves to the left it will contact the left end of the slot 55 to move the slide 57 to the left (Fig. 3). Slide 57 then contacts the operating finger 58 of a normally open switch fit thereby closing a circuit comprising power terminal 39, switch Gil, solenoid 29 and power terminal 38 (Figs. 1 and This energizes the solenoid 29, moving the core to the right and carrying the coin ejecting slide ll back to its initial position. The trigger 55 will be moved to the right in the slot 55 until it contacts the right end of the slot 56 thereby moving the slide 51 to the right (Figs. 3 and 6). This permits the operating finger 59 of the switch Gil to return to its normal position to permit switch 5% to open thus de-energizing the solenoid 29.

lhe lest motion switch operator comprising the trigger 5%, the slot 56, the slide 5? and the frame is provided with a friction device to prevent too easy movement of the slide 57. This friction device comprises a friction member 6! which is urged against the lower surface of the slide 5? by a spring 62 which bears against a nut 63. The nut as is threaded upon a screw is secured to the lower surface of the friction member iii and the bottom the spring 62 is carried by the frame 53 of the lost motion device. The amount of friction between the friction member ti and the slide El may be adjusted with the nut 53.

Assume that a quarter is placed in a coin slot leading to change tube In, and that the coin is accepted or rejected by proven slug ejection 'ieans such as '52. If the coin passes conventicnal slug ejectors, it closes the contacts of switch operated by an operating trip 44(0) located in the path of the travel of the coin. If the dispensing machine is not empty so that the limit switch 3? is closed, if there are nickels in the nickel tube so that limit switch 3 is closed, and if there are dimes in the dime tube it so that limit switch 33 is closed, a circuit is made comprising the power terminal 39, switch switch 3 3, switch 33, switch 65, solenoid 48 and power terminal 38. This energizes the solenoid l-B thereby withdrawing the mechanical interlocl; (0) from operative engagement with the gate 35(0) thereby permitting the coin to drop down chute 49(0). If, however, switch points 3? are open because the vending machine is empty, or switch 34 is open because there are no nickels in the nickel tube, or switch 33 is open because there are no dimes in the dime tube, then the mechanical interlock will not be withdrawn and the coin will be discharged through path 56(0) to a coin return slot.

Assuming that the coin has traveled down chute i(c), it will contact operating finger 5i (0) thereby closing switch 66 mechanically operated by the finger 5! (c) This closes a circuit comprising power terminal 38, solenoid 21, switch 55, output terminal M, output terminal 46 and power terminal 39 thereby simultaneously effecting operation of the vending machine and energization of the solenoid 21. Energization of the solenoid 2? moves its core 30 to the left (Figs. 5 and 9). This carries the slide [8 to the left and the abutment of the offset portion 23 of slide it with the right end of slide l7 moves slide H to the left (Fig. 8). This discharges two nickels from openings 29 and 2! through discharge opening 25 and discharges a dime from opening 22 through discharge opening 26 thereby giving a purchaser a five cent article and change comprising two nickels and one dime.

In thi part of the cycle the lost motion device causes the operation of the switch 60 in the same manner as described for the operation of the dime slot. The movement of slide I! to the right causes the right end of slide 17 to engage abutment 23 and slide l3 thereby moving all of the operating parts back to their initial position. The opening of switch 6% dc-energizes the solenoid 29 thereby permitting the commencement of a new cycle.

It is quite obvious that it is not necessary to use the foregoing mechanism for the exact change arrangements illustrated. A cent and a half dollar tube may be added if the machine is intended to accept coins of such denominations and the thicknesses of the various slides may be altered to handle two to three coins, or even more in the changing operation rather than using the single coin thickness slides depicted. Such modifications need not be described in detail because they are within the skill of any mechanic working in this art.

Further, if the machine is to be used for coin changing purposes exclusively and not in connection with a vending machine the output terminals 46 and ti and switch 37 may both be bridged. In the selected embodiment of the applicants invention, this would necessitate a doubling of the thickness of slide 17. In this manner, if a dime is used to operate the machine, the slide ll will eject two nickels and if a quarter is fed into the machine the slide H3 will eject one dime and one nickel and the slide ll will eject two nickels thereby giving the operator of the machine his proper change.

Various other modifications and details may he made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of all of such modifications is contemplated, the applicants invention being defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a change dispensing mechanism having a plurality of change tubes, and a plurality of change ejecting slides; a solenoid for operating at least one of said change ejecting slides; a solenoid for returning at least one of said change ejecting slides to its normal initial position; and means for operating one of said slides one complete cycle only and for stopping said slide automatically in its normal initial position, said means including an operating circuit to energize the operating solenoid; an electrical return circuit to energize the return solenoid; a lost motion switch operator operated by movement of one of said slides; and a switch operated by movement of said lost motion switch operator to energize said return solenoid operating circuit upon movement of said change ejecting slide to its change ejecting position and operated by return of said change ejecting slide to its normal position to de-energize said return solenoid operating circuit.

2. In a change dispensing mechanism includin a change tube and a change ejecting slide; a solenoid for operating said change ejecting slide; a solenoid for returning said change ejecting slide to its normal position; and means for operating said change ejecting slide one complete cycle only and for stopping said slide automatically in its normal position, said means including an operating circuit to energize the operating solenoid; an electrical return circuit to energize the return solenoid; a lost motion switch operator operated by movement of said slide; and a switch operated by movement of said lost motion switch operator to energize said return solenoid operating circuit upon movement of said change ejecting slide to its change ejecting position and operated by return of said change ejecting slide to its normal position to de-energize said return solenoid operating circuit.

3, A change dispensing mechanism including a ace/gees 7" change tube; a coin ejecting slide having a coin receiving portion, said coin ejecting slide having a first position of movement; for receiving a coin from said change tube and a second position of movement for ejecting a coin from said coin receiving portion; a first solenoid iormoving said coin ejectin slide from its first position of move ment to its second position. of movement; a second solenoid for returning said slide from its second position of movement to its first position of movement; and means operable by the insertion oi a coin for operating said coin ejecting slide. one complete cycle only and for stopping said slide automatically upon the return of said slide, to its first position of movement said means including a coin control switch operated by passage of a coin to initiate operation of said first solenoid; a lost motion switch operator operated by said slide; and a switch operated by said lost motion switch operator to initiate operation of said second solenoid upon movement of said slide to said second position of movement and to sic-energize said second solenoid upon movement of said slide to said first position of movement.

4;. A change dispensing mechanism including a change tube; a coin ejecting slide having a coin receiving portion; said coin ejecting slide having a full operating cycle comprising a normal. position for receiving a coin from saidv change tube and a, second position for ejecting a coin from said coin receiving portion; a first solenoid for moving said coin ejecting slide from its normal position to its second position; a second solenoid for returning said slide from its second position to its normal position; and means for operating said coin ejecting slide one complete cycle only a and for stopping said slideautomatically. in its normal position, said means including coin operable means to energize the first; solenoid to move the coin ejecting slide from its normal position to its second position and slide operable means actuated by reciprocation of the slide for energizing the second solenoid upon movement of the slide to its second position and for de-energizing the second solenoid upon the return of the slide to its normal position.

JACK F. EIERMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 707,967 Griscom Aug. 26, 1902 803,936 Stokes Nov. 7, 1905 868,967 Clemons et al Oct. 22, 1907 996,440 Whalton' June 27', 1911 1,120,414 Schoolfield et a1 Dec. 8, 191 i 1,128,518 Rohland Feb. 16, 1915 1,325,766 Thompson Dec. 23, 1919 1,582,659 Baker Apr. 27, 1926 1,813,720 Wilson July 7, 1931 2,075,989 Jonneret et a1 Apr. 6, 1937 2,147,954 Kozel et aI Feb. 21, 1939 2 1831511 Goodman ;Dec.,I9, 1939 2,250,051 Patzer July 22, 1941 2,256,976 Ford Sept. 23, 1941 2,271,397 McDermott Jan. 27,1942 2,376,880 Mill's May 29, 1945 2,491,900 Mihalek Dec. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 15,164 Australia Dec. 14, 1934 

